Rav Chaim Dov Altusky zt”l

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rav Chaim Dov Altusky zt”l, author of the acclaimed seforimChiddushei Basra. Rav Altusky was recognized a gaon in Torah, avodas Hashem and middos tovos. An exceedingly humble person, Rav Altusky shunned the limelight while spending his days and nights immersed in the Yam Hatalmud. His phenomenal seforim reflect the clarity of his yedios haTorah and the breadth of his knowledge.

Rav Altusky’s petirah is being mourned across the Olam HaTorah. He was 85.

Rav Altusky, during his early years, learned in Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood and at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim.

Rav Altusky’s wife, Rebbetzin Fruma Altusky, is a daughter of Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg zt”l, the late rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Ore. Rav Altusky was instrumental in helping his father-in-law found Yeshiva Torah Ohr as well as Yeshiva Shaarei Chaim. Rav Altusky served as a R”M at Yeshiva Torah Ohr, where he was beloved by the talmidim, particularly those from chutz la’aretz learning at the yeshiva.

Rav Altusky was a popular maggid shiur, and delivered hundreds, if not thousands, of shiurim over the years on myriad topics, including Gemara, Chumash, Nach, halacha and more. Many of these shiurim were recorded and have been distributed worldwide.

Rav Altusky is survived by his devoted rebbetzin and their children, five sons and four daughters.

The levaya began at 1:30 p.m. at Rav Scheinberg’s yeshiva, Yeshivas Torah Ore, located at 3 Rechov Sorotzkin in Kiryas Mattersdorf in Yerushalayim. The levaya, which is concluding at this time, can be accessed via teleconference at 312.340.6650 with pin 3016836.

I have tremendous hakaras ha’tov to R’ Altusky for the wonderful shiurim he gave which I listened to on cassette tapes years ago. He taught Neviim Rishonim, Neviim Acharonim, also Yalkut Shimoni, Medrash Rabba, Chazal’s View on Chumash. I got them from Torah Tapes, 1814 50th St. 718-438-3904

He practiced what he preached. He always spoke to us about hasmada & right after the shmooze, he would go right back upstairs to the Bais Medrash to learn. Who could forget his Chumash shiur Friday afternoons? His shiur room was packed to the gills. People were standing wall to wall. I remember bachurim would come from other Yeshivo’s, especially from the Mir, to hear his Friday Chumash shiur! He spoke, lived, and breathed Emunah & Betachon! I remember his famous Shiva asar bitamuz & Tisha be’av shiurim. They would go on for about 4 hours. I am alive & Frum today because of Rebbi!